France uses a multi-tier system with specific rates that apply to applicable goods and services. Complexity arises when deciphering the nature of the product or service. For example, different VAT rates apply for food that is prepared or a basic necessity.
France’s e-invoicing mandate is also useful to consider, as it includes an e-reporting obligation.
This page provides an overview of France VAT, e-invoicing, and e-reporting compliance, including technical specifications, requirements and penalties, and territorial specificities.
| Standard VAT rate | 20% in mainland France |
| Reduced VAT rates | 10%, 5.5% and 2.1% |
| VAT return frequency | Standard frequency is monthly; simplified regime is annual; quarterly filing is possible for taxpayers with annual net VAT due of under €4,000 |
| B2B e-invoicing status | Phased mandate rollout from 1 September 2026 |
| B2G e-invoicing status | Mandatory since 1 January 2020 |
| E-reporting status | Phased mandate rollout from 1 September 2026 |
| Required e-invoicing transmission route | Approved platforms (PAs) like Sovos, or ChorusPro |
| Permitted e-invoicing formats | UBL XML, UN/CEFACT CII XML, Factur-X |
Here are the main elements of VAT in France and how your organisation can comply with the country’s rules and requirements.
Businesses established in France—also known as resident businesses—must register for VAT if their annual turnover exceeds:
The process of VAT registration in France requires the submission of several documents, including proof of business activity, articles of association (statutes) and a completed Form M0.
Non-established businesses are not subject to a registration threshold. They are required to register from the first taxable transaction, oftentimes also needing fiscal representation in the case of non-EU entities.
There are specific situations where entities must appoint fiscal representation—a locally accredited tax agent—to manage their VAT compliance and communications with the national tax authorities.
You need a fiscal representative if you:
While there is a standard VAT rate in mainland France, there are reduced rates, exemptions and territorial rates to be aware of.
The standard VAT rate in France is 20%.
There is a 10% rate for certain services, such as:
There is a 5.5% rate for essential goods, such as:
Some services are exempt from VAT altogether (also known as being zero-rated), including:
VAT filing obligations in France depend on the VAT regime applicable to the business, which is primarily determined by annual turnover and annual VAT liability.
The default filing frequency for businesses under the normal France VAT regime is monthly, with businesses generally filing monthly VAT returns.
Businesses under the standard VAT regime whose annual net VAT liability is less than €4,000 may opt to file VAT returns quarterly instead of monthly.
There is a simplified VAT regime that exists until 1 January 2027. This regime allows qualifying taxpayers to file a single, annual VAT return.
Introduced in January 2023, French VAT groups allow entities that are closely linked to operate as a single taxable entity for VAT purposes.
There are key conditions for eligibility to this regime—such as shared, mutual filing and a three-year commitment—and companies must opt in before 31 October of the year preceding the implementation.
| Territories where French VAT applies |
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| Territories where French VAT does not apply |
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French territories’ VAT is complex, and different rules and rates apply:
France’s e-invoicing mandate, combined with the e-reporting obligation, provides the tax authorities with access to transaction data to increase efficiency and cut costs—as well as reducing the VAT gap by fighting fraud.
Whether you are a buyer or supplier, the mandate’s effect on businesses and their operational processes, financial systems and people is extensive.
The mandate includes three key obligations:
Certified PAs must support one of three mandatory invoice formats: UBL, CII, or Factur-X, while other structured formats may also be used. E-invoices must contain all fields required under French tax and commercial law.
E-reporting frequency depends on the taxpayer's VAT regime. For businesses on a monthly VAT reporting cycle, invoice data must be reported every 10 days.
France’s electronic invoicing mandate extends to business-to-business (B2B) transactions has a phased rollout, beginning on 1 September 2026.
The mandate requires invoices to be specifically structured and exchanged through an approved platform (PA). These platforms validate, route and deliver invoices electronically between partners—and also transmit invoice data to the French tax administration.
E-invoicing for business-to-government (B2G) transactions has been mandatory since 1 January 2020. This means that businesses which supply goods or services to French public-sector entities must electronically submit invoices. This is done through the government’s e-invoicing platform, Chorus Pro.
Chorus Pro remains the tax authority’s platform of choice for B2G e-invoicing, despite the introduction of PAs for B2B transactions.
Some transactions fall outside of the country’s e-invoicing requirements. Business-to-consumer (B2C) sales and many cross-border transactions instead qualify for e-reporting.
Instead of exchanging a structured invoice through Chorus Pro, businesses have to submit transaction (and, oftentimes, additionally payment data) to the tax administration.
E-reporting is also subject to a phased rollout:
Businesses face the responsibility of determining whether a particular transaction, and the location of the buyer, means it is subject to either e-invoicing or e-reporting.
Here are the key dates in France’s e-invoicing journey.
For B2B transactions, businesses must use a DGFiP-approved platform—better known as a PA—to receive and issue regulated electronic invoices and transmit specific e-reporting data.
Chorus Pro is the government’s e-invoicing system which is predominantly used to transmit e-invoices and transaction data for transactions between suppliers and public sector entities.
Sovos is an accredited PA, meaning the French Tax Authority (DGFiP) has approved Sovos’ role in allowing taxpayers to receive and issue electronic invoices.
Invoices must include:
The e-invoicing mandate retains France’s existing invoice requirements, but adds four mandatory data points:
Invoices may be issued in another language, but the French tax authorities may require a French translation during an audit, and they must be retained for at least 10 years.
In the case of amending an invoice, it is not enough to simply overwrite or silently amend the incorrect data. An official correction must be made via a separate document, specifically referring to the original invoice.
To guarantee the authenticity of an invoice (both paper and electronic kinds), the tax authorities require taxpayers to be ensure the origin, content and legibility are all clear and intact.
French law recognises several ways of satisfying these integrity requirements, including:
Peppol, the pan-European e-invoicing network and framework, is an option within France’s e-invoicing architecture.
French law, as it relates to the e-invoicing mandate, does not require taxpayers or approved platforms (PAs) to use Peppol, though it is one of the main network options that they can use as part of the mandate’s favourable interoperability stance.
Learn more about Peppol e-invoicing.
Here are the main penalties that non-compliance with France’s tax requirements can deliver.
Failure to comply with French VAT obligations can result in significant penalties.
There are penalties in place for non-compliance with France’s e-invoicing mandate.
France's standard VAT rate is 20%, with reduced rates of 10%, 5.5%, 2.1%, and 0% for qualifying exempt supplies.
Generally, no. Goods and services supplied outside the EU are typically exempt from French VAT, provided you retain the required customs or export documentation.
Common VAT exemptions include healthcare, education, financial and insurance services, certain real estate transactions, non-profit activities, and gambling.
VAT returns and payments are generally due between the 15th and 24th of the month following the reporting period. The exact deadline depends on the business's VAT regime and establishment status.
France’s e-reporting requirements complement its e-invoicing mandate by requiring businesses to report B2C and cross-border B2B transaction data. Reporting frequency depends on the business’s VAT regime.
An e-invoice in France is an invoice issued and transmitted electronically in a structured format. The mandate rolls out during 2026–2027 based on business size, but all companies must be able to receive e-invoices via an accredited provider (PA) from September 2026.
France accepts UBL, CII, Factur-X, and other compliant structured formats.
Yes. Businesses must use an accredited Plateforme Agréée (PA) to exchange e-invoices. Following the French Tax Authority's October 2024 announcement, the public PPF platform will no longer provide free invoice exchange services, making a PA mandatory for all businesses in scope.
A Plateforme Agréée (PA) is a tax authority-accredited provider that exchanges e-invoices between businesses and transmits required data to the French government. All in-scope businesses must use a PA.
Yes. Sovos was granted Plateforme Agréée (PA) status (registration n°0004) by the French Tax Authority and received final certification on 17 December 2025 after successfully completing the official DGFiP testing programme.